Aluva Shivaratri

[Guest guest]

!! Sri Rama Jayam !!

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Aluva (Aluvai - More correctly) is a word borrowed from sanskrit, meaning -

" Trishulam " . Thus, the very name signifies the glory of the land which is very

much beloved to Siva & his holy consort Parvati. The Aluva Siva temple resides

very near to the banks of Periyar (or Aluva Puzha) & on the other side stands

Sri Krishna-Balarama temple. In the local colloquials, Siva is referred to as

" Aluva Tevar " & Krishna is called " Akkare Krishnan " . To be more specific, Aluva

Tevar does not have any sheltered construction to be called as Temple or

Ambalam, but it's an open concreted foundation. Usually, half time of the year

this foundation stands in shallow water & remaining time on sand, hence that

region where tevar stands is called " Manalpuram " . Now, one will find some

cemented coverings across the land for some safety reasons. The bridge joining

these separated land columns is the famous " Marthanda Varma Bridge " .

There is a very famous story which implies the uncompleted structure of

manalpuram. It goes like this. Once, the bhoota ganas (servants of Siva) decided

to build a " Mandiram " for their master. Siva agreed to their wish. The cheerful

ganas started their work in the late night, carrying big boulders of stones &

woods. In the mean time, it is said that Mahavishnu (in the form of a cock) sat

on the nearby banyan tree & horned high. Confused ganas left their job

uncompleted thinking that sun is about to dawn. That work never resumed

thereafter.......still Lord Siva appreciated their service & happily took over

that land as his beloved abode. In connection to this, when " Kadangallur

Muttappan (Lord Narasimha) " comes for arattu (bath) in aluva puzha, he has to

pay tax to Lord Siva. I don't know, if this exits till now. I heard this from my

grandmother. Just wanted to share with you all .....

 

Happy Sivaratri ....

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Hare Krishna

Hare Rama